MORE DOCUMENTARIES
LALLI JOHNS - dir. THORFINNUR GUDNASON
Synopsis: Lalli Johns is a small-time criminal in Reykjavik. He as lived on the streets for thirty years and his only fixed address is the jail where he has served a total of seventeen years for thirty-five convictions for petty theft and a variety of other offences. Yet every time he leaves prison he wows to better himself, stop drinking, stealing and taking drugs. Director Thorfinn Gudnason followed Lalli for three years, on his various trips to the Litla Hraun-jail, to the social services and favourite pubs, filled with friends. But through the haze of smoke and intoxication Lalli turns out to be an incurable optimist: “One joint a day keeps the blues away!”
Original Title: Lalli Johns
English title: Lalli Johns
Original language: Icelandic
Sub titled version: English & Danish
Type of film: Documentary
Genre: Creative documentary
Year of production: 2001
Date of theatrical release in Iceland: 29. Mars 2001
Festivals: IDFA Amsterdam 2001
Awards & Nominations: Edda-Award, best documentary
Producer: Thorfinn Gudnason
Production Company : Villingur
Address: Klapparstígur 25-27, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland
Tel: 354-5529300
Fax: 354-5526087
Email: ow@oneway.is
Co-producer: Guðbergur Davidsson
Production supported by: Icelandic Film Fund, c/o Kristin Palsdottir
Director: Thorfinn Gudnason
Script Writer: Thorfinn Gudnason
Orginal Score: Midnes, Þorbjörn Á. Erlingsson
Director of Photography: Thorfinnur Gudnason
Line Producer: Bryndís J.Gunnarsdóttir
Sound Design: Thorbjörn Á. Erlingsson
Editor: Thorfinnur Gudnason
Lalli Johns
Synopsis
Lalli Johns is a small-time criminal in Reykjavik. He as lived on the streets for thirty years and his only fixed address is the jail where he has served a total of seventeen years for thirty-five convictions for petty theft and a variety of other offences. Yet every time he leaves prison he wows to better himself, stop drinking, stealing and taking drugs. Director Thorfinn Gudnason followed Lalli for three years, on his various trips to the Litla Hraun-jail, to the social services and favourite pubs, filled with friends. But through the haze of smoke and intoxication Lalli turns out to be an incurable optimist: “One joint a day keeps the blues away!”
Personal statement:
I first met Lalli in a billiard parlour in down-town Reykjavik some twenty-five years ago. I was fifteen years old and a bit wild, but Lalli was twenty-five. To me and my friends he seemed the coolest cat on the scene. He drank Aquavit and lemonade and had his packets full of money which he gave away left and right. Lalli Johns as always generous with his possessions and as one of his friends puts it in the film: “Lalli Johns will even give you his last cigarette.”
In the three years when I later followed Lalli with my camera I discovered that he is an incurable kleptomaniac. One cold winter night I let him stay in my flat and he repaid my hospitality by making off with my watch. But once you have gotten to know Lalli you cannot ever get angry with him. Rather you feel like adopting him as a son.
From the reviews:
“Brilliant from beginning to end.”
Thorarinn Thorarinsson, Strik.is
“Drama and pitch-black humour combine in colourful tumult. One of Iceland’s best documentries.”
Sæbjörn Valdimarsson, The daily Morgunbladid
“Lalli Johns is a documentary as good as they get.”
Hilmar Karlsson, The daily DV
“A seminal film, a masterpiece.”
Olafur H. Torfason, RUV, Radio 2
Main Cast: Lalli Johns
Running time: 85 min
Video format: DV-cam
World Sales Tel: 5529300
Fax 5526087
Email: ow@oneway.is
Festival Contact: Thorfinn Gudnason
Tel: 5529300
Fax: 5526087
Email: ow@oneway.is
